Latest news with #HarleyNewton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Biggest great white shark ever recorded in Atlantic resurfaces near NC coast
HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) – The largest great white shark that researchers have ever documented in the Atlantic is swimming its way to a popular vacation spot. Named 'Contender,' the nearly 14-foot-long behemoth was first tagged in January by OCEARCH, a non-profit organization that collects data on large marine animals and follows hundreds of sharks across the U.S. and Canada. The massive shark was first tracked about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville. Scientists keep tabs on the shark's whereabouts through a signal that transmits when its dorsal fin breaks the water's surface. After vanishing off the radar for several weeks, 'Contender' reemerged close to the North Carolina tourist area of Pamlico Sound. The latest ping of its location sounded just before 5 p.m. on June 7. Researchers' tracking map shows the enormous shark has been heading north for the last few weeks. The shark's last ping came on May 21 as it surfaced further south along the state's coastline. Measuring at a staggering 13 feet and nine inches long, 'Contender' is estimated to be approximately 30 years old and weighs close to 1,653 pounds. Scientists said they believe the shark's brief disappearance coincided with a vital feeding period, allowing it to stock up on energy before embarking on a long journey. 'This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration, moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada,' said Dr. Harley Newton, the chief scientist and veterinarian at OCEARCH. 'We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark 'Contender' appears to be doing.' 'This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more,' she added. The OCEARCH website describes 'Contender' as 'the ultimate ocean warrior' and a 'mature male' specimen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Largest Great White Shark on Record Headed for Popular Tourist Spot
The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean is headed for a new home, and it happens to be a tourist hotspot. The 14-foot shark, known as Contender, was first tagged by OCEARCH Shark Tracker in January about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast. But around the middle of May, Contender's signal disappeared for several weeks. On June 11, he resurfaced near North Carolina's Pamlico Sound, a popular enclave for summer tourists. Researchers believe that Contender's brief disappearance coincided with a critical feeding period in which Contender was building up reserves for its marathon journey to the north. 'This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration (May 16 to June 30), moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada," said Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian.'We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing," Newton continued. 'This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more.' OCEARCH is closely monitoring Contender's movements and activity in order to promote shark conservation and advance research around the species. Data from Contender and other tagged sharks help to protect the ocean's other inhabitants, as great white sharks are integral to regulating prey populations which face threats from overfishing, climate change, and habitat Great White Shark on Record Headed for Popular Tourist Spot first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 12, 2025
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Atlantic's largest Great White Shark resurfaces near US coastline after months
Source: New York Post A record-breaking Great White Shark named Contender is making headlines as it journeys along the US East Coast, surfacing near a popular vacation region. Measuring an astonishing 14 feet in length and weighing approximately 1,653 pounds, Contender is the largest Great White Shark ever tagged in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the reports, the Great White Shark was first tracked in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organisation dedicated to marine research. This massive predator was tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville. According to the New York Post reports, after nearly a month without signal, the shark recently resurfaced off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, sending waves of excitement through the scientific community and ocean enthusiasts alike. Contender's movements mark a vital feeding stop during his seasonal migration northward, according to what the experts say. 14-foot Great White Shark Contender reappears after vanishing The Great White Shark nicknamed as Contender, is a 14-foot, 1,653-pound predator that was first tagged in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a leading nonprofit research organisation focused on large marine species. The shark was located roughly 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo After disappearing from trackers for almost a month, Contender resurfaced northward off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. The absence was due to how its tracker functions; it only transmits location data when the dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water, making updates sporadic. Contender is estimated to be about 30 years old, placing it among the oldest documented Great White Sharks currently being monitored. According to Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian based in Ponte Vedra, Florida, this movement aligns with known migratory behaviour. North Carolina waters serve as key feeding stop for migrating great whites This deviation to North Carolina's coastal waters is believed to be a crucial feeding period. Experts suggest that this region offers an abundance of food that allows sharks like Contender to build energy reserves in preparation for a northward journey that could span over 1,000 miles. Dr. Newton added, 'We often observe tagged sharks lingering off the Outer Banks before continuing their migration. The availability of prey makes this area an important pre-departure refuelling site. ' How OCEARCH tags and tracks sharks The tagging process for Contender was extensive and carefully executed. Researchers captured the shark alongside their specialised research vessel, collected biological samples for further analysis, and fitted a SPOT (Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting) satellite tag to its dorsal fin. This SPOT tag allows real-time GPS tracking when the shark surfaces. Both scientists and the public can follow its movements through OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker, an open-access digital platform. Role of sharks in marine conservation Data collected from Contender and other sharks play a vital role in marine conservation. By studying their migratory routes and behaviours, researchers can identify critical habitats that need protection. Great white sharks are apex predators and play an essential role in balancing marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations. However, they face growing threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, and the ongoing impacts of climate change. Also Read | US man finds snake giving 'saucy looks' from dashboard; Mazda's hilarious 'Try Beyoncé' reply goes viral
New York Post
2 days ago
- Science
- New York Post
Biggest great white shark ever recorded in Atlantic tracked off North Carolina coast
The biggest great white shark ever recorded by researchers in the Atlantic is on the move – towards a popular US vacation hotspot. Contender, the 14-foot beast, was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH in January – a non-profit organization that conducts research on large marine animals – 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville. And after going off the radar for nearly a month – the tracker only transmits locating signal when the shark's dorsal fin is briefly exposed above the water's surface – last week it surfaced north, off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. Advertisement 5 Contender, the great white shark, is tagged by researchers at OCEARCH in January 2025. OCEARCH / SWNS The beast appears to have made a dart for the north over the last few weeks. Measuring around 1,653 pounds, Contender is estimated to be around 30 years old. Advertisement This stopover is believed to be a critical feeding period, allowing him to build energy reserves, for what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more. Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, from Ponte Vedra, Florida, explained the behavior of the mammoth creatures. She said: 'This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration (May 16 to June 30) moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada.' 5 Measuring around 1,653 pounds, Contender is estimated to be around 30 years old. OCEARCH / SWNS Advertisement 5 The tracker only transmits locating signal when the shark's dorsal fin is briefly exposed above the water's surface. OCEARCH / SWNS The tagging involved carefully capturing Contender alongside the research vessel, collecting biological samples, and attaching a SPOT satellite tag to his dorsal fin. This tag transmits real-time GPS data whenever he surfaces, enabling researchers and the public to track his movements live via OCEARCH's global shark tracker. Dr Newton said: 'We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. Advertisement 5 The tagging involved carefully capturing Contender alongside the research vessel, collecting biological samples, and attaching a SPOT satellite tag to his dorsal fin. OCEARCH / SWNS 5 Data from Contender and other tagged sharks inform conservation efforts and help protect critical habitats. OCEARCH / SWNS 'This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more.' Contender's migration is closely monitored to advance scientific research and promote shark conservation. Great white sharks play a vital role in marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations but face threats from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. Data from Contender and other tagged sharks inform conservation efforts and help protect critical habitats.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘World's biggest great white shark' dubbed ‘The Contender' is spotted by trackers heading towards popular tourist beach
THE biggest white shark ever tagged by scientists has been spotted heading towards a popular tourist beach. Named 'The Contender', the vast beast hasn't been heard from for several weeks. 4 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island 4 Contender was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH Credit: SWNS 4 Contender, the 14ft great white shark Credit: SWNS 4 The massive shark has been skulking around the North Carolina coast for the past few months. Scientists keep tabs on its location through a tracker that "pings" whenever the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. But after several weeks off grid, the behemoth has surfaced again - this time near the popular North Carolina tourist area of Pamlico Sound. The latest ping sounded on June 7, just before 10pm. The scientists' tracking map appears to show The Contender making a move north since it last appeared. Weighing a whopping 1,600 pounds, the shark was first tagged on January 17 this year. The Contender started its journey about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It is the largest ever shark tagged the research group OCEARCH. The adult white shark measures a staggering 13 feet and nine inches. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, said: "This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada." The Contender's previous ping came on May 21, when it was much further south along North Carolina's coast. However, beachgoers need not panic, as the shark is still swimming a fair distance from the coastline. Dr Newton added: "We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. "This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more." OCEARCH's website calls Contender "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It adds that his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. The website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analysed." It comes after a huge 20ft shark emerged from the water before stalking a tiny boat on Block Island. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water.
